Oil shows up in so many parts of the Bible—kings are anointed, lamps are lit, and people are healed. Jesus is even called the Anointed One, literally “smeared with oil.” Although it might seem like a small detail, oil isn’t just there to add flavour to ancient rituals. Scripture uses it to show how God prepares, shapes, and empowers us for His purpose, much like oil was pressed from olives for light and healing. That pressing process is a powerful picture of how our faith matures and becomes useful to God and others.

Why Oil, and Why Now?

We live in complicated times, full of unrest and ever-changing cultural shifts. Though we can’t always pick the world we live in, we do choose how we’ll walk through it. In the Bible, oil symbolizes the work of the Holy Spirit—His presence, provision, and power in our lives. That’s something we all need right now. Oil was never produced instantly in ancient times; it involved planting a seed, growing a tree, harvesting fruit, and pressing olives. Our spiritual growth mirrors that process. It includes patience, pruning, and sometimes the crushing moments that reveal what truly lives within us.

The Olive Tree as a Picture of Growth

A key reason Scripture emphasizes oil is the time and care it takes to produce. An olive tree can take years just to bear its first fruit, and it’s only after careful pruning and maturing that it finally yields olives. Once the fruit appears, it’s then crushed to extract oil. None of that is quick or convenient. Yet after all that effort, the oil is precious—it can light lamps, heal wounds, and is used for sacred anointing. It’s a telling image for how our faith grows strong through patient tending and, at times, necessary challenges.

Reading about oil in Scripture reminds us that real maturity can’t be forced or faked. It grows gradually when we allow God to prune away what doesn’t belong—old habits, misplaced priorities, or even our pride. Often, the seasons that feel like crushing points are actually making our faith deeper and richer. This isn’t about earning God’s favour; it’s about letting His Spirit work in us so that, over time, we can pour out grace, wisdom, and love to others.

Jesus told a parable in which bridesmaids needed oil in their lamps as they waited for the bridegroom’s arrival (Matthew 25). Those who ran out of oil were unprepared when the celebration started. It’s a reminder that we aren’t meant to live on spiritual fumes. There’s a call to keep our faith tank filled—not by busy schedules or collecting knowledge, but by practices that connect us to God.

This might include:

• Quiet Reflection: Carving out time to be still in God’s presence, allowing His Word to sink in.
• Honest Prayer: Bringing our doubts, frustrations, and hopes to Him, trusting Him to guide us.
• Real Community: Sharing life with believers who encourage growth and accountability.
• Patient Perseverance: Committing to growth even when circumstances are tough or mundane.

Moments of hardship aren’t just unfortunate bumps on the road; they can be part of a path God uses to refine us. The oil that’s produced in those crushing times—humility, compassion, resilience—becomes what He uses to bring light and comfort to others.

Embrace the Process

Human nature loves shortcuts. We’d prefer a faith that magically becomes strong and unwavering overnight. But like the olive tree, we need time, nurturing, and sometimes difficult pruning to bear fruit that lasts. The apostle Paul frequently talked about believers “growing up” in Christ, not so we can boast about our progress, but so we can actually make a difference in a world that’s often unsteady. By cooperating with God’s work in us, we become people who can stand firm and help others rather than getting swept into every passing storm.

Practical Steps for Here and Now

1. Identify Your Season - Are you in a time of growth, pruning, crushing, or pouring out? Ask God to clarify where you are, so you can lean into His work rather than resisting it.
2. Practice Simple Reflection - Something like a nightly “examen” helps you notice where you sensed God’s presence during the day and where you drifted. It’s not about guilt, but about recognizing patterns and letting God reshape your responses.
3. Build Authentic Community - Don’t try to grow alone. Seek friends or a small group who will encourage your spiritual journey. Likewise, offer that same support to others.
4. Welcome Pruning - Pruning might look like stepping back from overwhelming commitments or surrendering an unhelpful mindset. It can hurt at first, but the Gardener always cuts away branches to make room for healthy growth.
5. Lean on Jesus - He’s the “Anointed One,” and we carry that same anointing as His followers. Stay rooted in who He is, letting His love soften your heart and steady your steps.

While we can’t control the times we live in, we can decide how to walk forward. God doesn’t waste our hardships. Each experience, especially the crushing ones, can become precious oil when surrendered to Him. And that oil, like in ancient lamps, can bring warmth and clarity to a world in need of genuine hope.

Trust the Master Gardener. Let Him shape and strengthen you. Over time, you’ll discover your life producing something lasting—an oil of faith that heals, lights up dark places, and reflects the goodness of God in a way no shortcut ever could.